Belt buckle



scar

BY M* o. KATZMAN BELT BUCKLE:

Filed April 15, 1949 Patented Apr. 14, Y1953 BELT BUCKLE Oscar Katzman, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Hickok Manufacturing Company, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 15, 1949, Serial No. 87,642

6 Claims.

This invention relates to fasteners and more specically contemplates belt buckles, ornamental pins and the like commonly used to display initials.

Belt buckles adapted to carry the initials of the wearer have long met with popular favor. However, to provide each retailer with a stock of buckles suflicient to meet the demand for any combination of initials requires that the individual letter elements be structurally separate from one another as well as from the b-elt-engaging members, and further, that the parts be susceptible to assembly with the letter elements in any desired serial arrangement. Accordingly, buckles have been devised which consist essentially of a frame, carrying the belt-engaging members, equipped with guide rails between which the letter elements may be inserted. In many instances the frame and guide rails detract from the ornamental effect of the initals.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a buckle comprising belt-engaging members in combination with means for supporting a, plurality of structurally separate letter elements in any prearranged sequence, in which the belt attaching members and letter elementsupporting expedients are entirely hidden from View when the buckle is in use.

Another object is to provide a buckle of the character above referred to wherein the belt forms a complete background for the letters.

More specifically, it is an object hereof to provide a fastener for securing a series of ornamental elements in predetermined juxtaposition, to a device for attaching the assembly to wearing apparel, comprising a flat-loop retainer upon which the ornamental elements may be threaded, in combination with means for directly but releasably connecting the last-assembled element to the retainer so as to prevent inadvertent displacement of any of the elements.

Still another object is the provision of ornamental elements adapted to be assembled in serial arrangement and secured in adjusted relationship by the mechanism above referred to, comprising an ornamental face and a pair of channel members rigidly connected to the upper and lower edges respectively, of the face, to encompass the supporting structure for the ornamental elements.

Other objects and salient features of my invention, such for example as, simplicity of construc tion, economy of manufacture, ease of assembly, attractive appearance, and durability will be apparent from the following description read in INU 2 the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a buckle embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top edge View of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 part being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the assembled buckle;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the pin assembly for releasably securing the various parts together;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the open end of the retainer loop member upon which the letter elements are assembled;

Fig. '7 is a back elevation of the retainer loop member;

Fig. 8 is a top edge view of the said member;

Fig. 9 is an end elevatlon of one of the letter elements;

Fig. 10 is a back elevation of the letter element shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the numerals of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, I5 designates a rear retainer member comprising a strip of metal doubled upon itself to form a pair of parallel, flat reaches or sections I6 and I'I connected together by a bight portion providing an abutment stop. The front section I6 of the retainer l5 is of a width slightly greater than that of the belt to be used therewith. Projecting forwardly from each of the upper and lower edges at the side portions 38 and 4i! and terminating beyond the end portions 42 and 44 of the front section I6 of the retainer are a pair of side flanges I8 which with the section I6 form a channel in which the belt free end (not shown) to be engaged, is accommodated. The back section Il of the retaper is narrower than the front section I6 and its free end is equipped with a pair of integral vertically-aligned eyes I9 which project rearwardly in vertically-spaced relationship (see Fig. 6) for a purpose hereinafter more in detail described.

The letter elements 20 and 2I bearing, in the embodiment depicted, the letter 0, and the letter K, respectively, each comprise a face plate 22 stamped or otherwise cut in the form of a block letter. The letter elements are all of the same width and height, the latter dimension being slightly greater than the vertical dimension of the front section I6 of the retainer I5, Extending across the back of the face plate 22 of each letter element is a rear member or back panel 23, secured in spaced relationship with` the face plate 22 by integral side flanges 24 at its upper and lower edges, respectively. The foremost edges of the respective flanges 24 are formed with inwardly directed rails 25, each of which is of a width substantially equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the flanges I8 of front section I5 of the retainer, for a purpose later made apparent. The rails 25 extend the full width of the letter element, as is indi-cated in the letter element 2I in Fig. l, and accordingly the rails are visible from the front of those letter elements in which the upper or the lower marginal edge of the face plate 22 is interrupted. The letter elements 29 and 2l are assembled upon the retainer in the order in which they are tot be read, the first letter element 29 being slipped over the front section I S of the retainer with the back panel 23 between the sections I6 and Il and in abutting relation with the abutment stop at the fold portion of the retainer at which the front and back sections I6 and Il are joined. The lateral edges of the back panel 23 of each letter element 2B and 2| are recessed as at 25 to permit the letter element to overhang and completely hide the end of the retainer I5 so engaged.

The specific embodiment illustrated is adapted for the assembly of two letter elements. B-y varying the dimensions of the several parts in a manner which will be obvious, the individual letter elements may be of any length desired and the supporting structure may be adapted to carry, in operative relationship, a single letter element or any desired number thereof.

The second letter element 2| is similarly slid over the unattached end of the front section I6 of the retainer, being moved into abutting relationship with the letter element 2Q rst installed. 'I'he top and bottom marginal edges of the panel 23 as well as the flanges 2li and rails 25 of each letter element are slightly wider than the face plate 22 and accordingly contact the corresponding parts of the other letter element when assembled on the retainer so as to hold the face plates 22 of the respective letter elements in slightly spaced relationship, as indicated in Fig. l. With the letter elements 2B and 2I installed on the rear retainer I5, the flanges I8 of the front section IE of the retainer will contact the inner surfaces of the flanges 24 of the letter elements and will be engaged between the upper and lower marginal edges, respectively, of the back panels 23 and the opposed rails 25 which are secured to the backs of the face plates 22 of the letter elements. From the foregoing description of the means to attachably connect the side flanges 24 to the side portions of the rear member, it will be observed that the flanges I8 of the section I6 of the retainer I5 will be completely hidden by the rails 25 when the buckle is inuse, as seen in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the letter face plates 22, flanges I8 and section I6 will dene a passage for the free end of a belt to be received therein.

Each of the letter elements is provided with a pair of eyes or apertured ears 2l attached rigid- -ly to the upper and lower marginal edges of the back panel 23 thereof adjacent the side of the letter element which, when assembled with the retainer, lies nearest adjacent the eyes I9 of the retainer. The eyes or apertured ears 2l are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the distance between the eyes I 9 of the retainer so as to encompass the latter upon assembly and assume positions axially-aligned therewith.

In order to connect the ends of the belt with which the buckle is to be used, I provide an eccentric locking device comprising a tubular meinber 23 of a length adapted to t between the eyes is of the retainer I5. Projecting from one side of the tubular member 29 is a triangularly-shaped bail 29 with which one end of the belt, equipped with snaps or the like, is permanently engaged, in a conventional manner. To releasably secure the opposite or free end of the beit an eccentric friction grip 39 is integrally formed on one side of the tubular member' 28. The eccentric grip 3i] has a surface portion longitudinally ribbed as at 3| to augment the tenacity of the fricticnal engagement of the locking device with the belt end, when the eccentric grip is pivoted into its position for clamping the belt against the face plate of the display member. The side of the tubular member 28 opposite to the ribbed surface is formed with an elongated slot 32 out of which a pair of finger grips 33 extend. The finger grips are secured to the inner ends of a pair of pins 34, respectively, slidable in the bore of the member 28. The pins 3d are normally projected from opposite ends of the bore of the tubular member by a spring 35 within the bore and interposed between the inner ends of the pins 3d. 'Ihe beltengaging friction grip 33 and bail 29 assembly may be pivotally engaged with the retainer and second assembled letter element 2 I by contracting the finger grips 33 so as to withdraw the ends of the pins 3&3 into the bore of the tubular member 28, inserting the latter into alignment with the eyes I 9 and 2l of the retainer and second letter element 2|, and thereupon releasing the pins 3-6 Which will be projected through the aligned eyes by the spring 35. By thus locking the second letter element 2i to the retainer I5, the letter element so engaged prevents withdrawal of the first assembled letter element 29 from the retainer. Moreover, the relationship of the friction grip 39 and second letter element 2l is established by the pins 34. The bail 29 and eccentric lock 30 are structurally related so that with the bail 29 extended parallel to the face plates 22 of the letter elements, the grip lock 39 will be directed toward and be disposed adjacent to the back surface of the face plate 22 of the second letter element 2l.

In accordance with the operation and utility of the buckle the end of the belt equipped with snaps or the like is threaded through and engaged with the bail 29. The opposite or free end of the belt may then be inserted into the opposite end of the buckle, i. e., between the front section It of the retainer and the back surface of the face plates 22, the edges of the belt being confined between the forwardly directed flanges I8 of the retainer. In order to facilitate projection of the belt end completely through the buckle the tubular member 2S is turned axially so as to swing the bail 29 rearwardly, displacing the eccentric ribbed grip 30 from the path of the belt end. With the end of the belt then projected between the eccentric grip 3l! and the face plate 22 of the second letter element 2 I, the bail is returned into parallel relationship with the face plates. This operation is effective to swing the friction lock 3o against the belt end and Iclamp the same against the face plate 22 of the second letter element 2I.

The end of the belt, engaged by the eccentric 30 will thus provide a complete background for the letters of both elements, being visible, in the illustrated embodiment, through the center of the O and between the diverging sections of the K," while hiding completely the retainer I5 and belt engaging device with the exception of the extreme outer corners of the bail 29.

By removing the pins 34 any letter elements may be substituted for those shown and may be arranged in any order desired, each letter element being identical except with regard to the contour of the face plate 22, which may be in the form of any letter of the alphabet. Correspondingly, it will be understood that the letter contours of the face plates 22 are merely illustrative of any desired ornamental configuration.

Moreover, while I have illustrated and described only a single embodiment of my invention, numerous changes in size, design, shape, number and proportion of the various parts may be made, that the widths of the back panel 23, anges 2li and rails 25 of the letter elements may be reduced to the width of the face plate 22 so as to permit the face plates of the letter elements 20 and 2| to contact one another upon assembly, that any conventional type of pin mechanism for pivoting the parts together may be substituted for that shown, that the flanges I8 of the retainer may be omitted, if desired, and that the positions of the eyes I9 and 21 of the retainer and letter elements may be variously changed to locate the eccentric belt-locking device in direct opposition, throughout its length, to the face plate of the second letter element 2i, all without departing from the spirit of my invention as dened by the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a belt buckle, a rear retainer member comprised of a strip of material doubled over so as to include a bight portion joining frontI and rear reaches, a pair of interchangeable box-like display elements, each display element comprising a face plate, a back member and flanges interconnecting the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said face plate and back member to maintain the latter plate and member` in parallel, spaced relationship, the front reach having flanges extending therefrom at the upper and lower edges thereof, said pair of box-like display elements being engaged on said front reach so as to define a through passageway with one of said display elements having the side edge of its back member engaged against the bight portion joining the two reaches, the second display element being abutted against said rst display element, and belt attaching and gripping means interconnecting the second display element and the rear reach of the retainer member and constituting means to which one end of a belt can be attached and means for grippingly clamping the free end of a belt against the face plate of said second display element.

2. In a belt buckle, a rear retainer member comprised of a strip of material doubled over so as to include a bight portion joining front and rear reaches, the frontl reach being of a length sufcient to receive at least one display element thereon, at least one interchangeable display element of box-like form, each display element comprising a face plate, a back member and flanges the display element remote from said bight portion and one of the reaches of the retainer member and constituting means to which one end of a belt can be attached and means for grippingly clamping the free end of a belt against the juxtaposed face plate.

3. In a belt buckle, a rear retainer member comprised of a strip of material doubled over so as to include a bight portion joining front and rear reaches, the front reach being of a length sufficient to receive at least one display element thereon, at least one interchangeable display element of box-like form, each display element comprising a face plate, a back member and fianges interconnecting the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said face plate and back member to maintain the latter plate and member in parallel, spaced relationship, said front reach having anges extending therefrom at the upper and lower edges thereof, each display element being engaged on said front reach so as to define a through passageway, each display element having rearwardly extending eyes and said rear reach having a pair of eyes adapted to be aligned with the eyes of said display element, and belt attaching and gripping means having at least one pin engaged in the eyes on said display element and said rear reach to interconnect the display element with the retainer and provide a support for the last recited means, said last recited means constituting means to which one end of a belt can be attached and means for grippingly clamping the free end of a belt against the juxtaposed face plate.

4. In a belt buckle, a rear retainer member comprised of a strip of material doubled over so as to include a bight portion joining front and rear reaches, the front reach being of a length sufficient to receive at least one display element thereon, at least one interchangeable display element of box-like form, each display element comprising a face plate, a back member and fianges interconnecting the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said face plate and back member to maintain the latter plate and member in parallel, spaced relationship, said front reach having flanges extending therefrom at the upper and lower edges thereof, each display element being engaged on said front reach so as to define a through passageway, each display element having rearwardly extending eyes and said rear reach having a pair of eyes adapted to be aligned with the eyes of said display element. and belt attaching and gripping means having a pair of spring pressed pins extending therefrom and removably engaged in the eyes of said display element and said rear reach to interconnect the display element with the retainer and provide a support for the last recited means, said last recited means constituting means to which one end of a belt can be attached and means for grippingly clamping the free end of a belt against the juxtaposed face plate.

5. In a buckle, a retainer comprising a pair of elongated flat sections connected together at one end by a bight portion so as to provide a U-shaped rear member, at least one interchangeable box-like display element comprising a face plate and a back panel connected in spaced relationship at corresponding upper and lower edges, respectively, a belt-engaging member comprising an eccentric friction device and a bail, each display element being telescoped over one of said flat sections of said retainer, and means connecting said retainer, one display element and said belt-engaging member and pivotally supporting the belt-engaging member in operative relationship With the face plate.

6. In a belt buckle, a rear retainer member of a length sufficient to receive a display element thereon, an interchangeable display element comprising a face plate, and anges extending from the upper and lower edges of said face plate, said rear retainer member having apertured cars extending therefrom at the upper and lower edge portions thereof, said display element being interchangeably engaged on said rear retainer member so as to define a substantially straight through passageway, said display element having at least one apertured ear adapted to be aligned with said apertured ears, a belt attaching and gripping means having means pivotally mounted in said ears to hold the display element relative to said rear retainer member and constituting means to which one 8 end of a belt can be attached and means for grippingly clamping the free end of a belt against the juxtaposed face plate.

OSCAR KATZMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

